Barbara Nehls-Lowe (MPH, DMin) joined Continuing Studies after nearly 20 years in cancer control work. She lived for 2 years in the Philippines where she led a training of trainers program for young women. She later recruited for the Peace Corps and taught courses at community college in rural sociology and psychology. Barbara began her career in WI working in HIV/AIDS education with the Department of Public Instruction. Email: bnehlslowe@dcs.wisc.edu»

“I thought the program was wonderful. I enjoyed learning from everyone involved. I loved hearing the approach of the speakers and each person in the group.”

“I really had a great time and enjoyed everyone’s company. It was nice to acquire both knowledge and wisdom from others. Excellent class, terrific presenters, and wonderful camaraderie. I didn’t think this, but I will truly miss everyone in class.”

“Doug Smith is awesome! Thank you! I think we should have a reunion for all of us who attended the 1st Grief Certificate Program perhaps in a year and have the opportunity to get updates on everyone’s project.”

“This has been the most fantastic experience ever! All presenters were exceptional. Especially Doug Smith. So much honesty plus stories to highlight main points. Liked the mixed media too – including the photography.”

“I’m very thankful for the educational gifts I received in this training experience. I know that the clients at my clinic will benefit from what I learned and what I now implemented into their recovery program.”

“Thank you so much for making the training meaningful and educational. I enjoyed connecting with everyone and getting to hear about all the incredible projects that are underway!”

“I have been using Doug's exercises in therapy with several clients, as many to most of the people I work with are dealing with some sort of loss. It's been so interesting to see these exercises at work.”

“Just this evening I was working with a couple who did the bar graph exercise, and the information discovered about one another – and the underlying grief that was preventing a move forward in an ambivalent decision they face – was enlightening to all. Thank you!”

Grief Support Specialist Certificate Program

The Grief Support Specialist Certificate program is designed to equip counselors, clergy, coaches, educators, and other healthcare personnel with the necessary counseling tools to assist people in finding healing in the midst of loss, whether that loss be a death, a divorce, destruction due to drug abuse, or any other traumatic personal devastation. Four instructors, all skilled in various dimensions of grief therapy, will instruct registrants through five day-long classes, supplemented by a month-long paper or special project.

First of its kind in the nation

This certificate program is the first of its kind in the nation at a major university. The instructors are renowned experts in the field, more than one of whom have experienced great loss themselves. The program and 3 of the instructors are featured in the May issue of Brava Magazine in Teri Barr's article The Positive Power of Grief: Using the Pain to Help Others.

The Grief Support Specialist Certificate is a cohort program

You begin and complete it with the same group of learners. You must take all 5 days of classes and complete a project to receive your Certificate of Completion and CEUs.

Our first cohort, spring 2014.

CEUs and prerequisites

The Grief Support Specialist Certificate provides 3.5 Continuing Education Units (35 hours of professional continuing education) for people in a variety of professions including, but not limited to, psychology, social work, counseling, and marriage and family therapy.

To enroll, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a health care or counseling field and/or employment in a health care or counseling setting. Call Barbara Nehls-Lowe at 608-890-4653 if you have questions or concerns about this.

Full agenda

Fees, payment schedule, and refunds

Fee is $1800.

This fee includes instruction from 5 key experts over 5 days, 35 CEUs, refreshments, guidance throughout the month-long project period, course materials, and a copy of the textbook Living Through Loss: Interventions Across the Life Span written by UW Madison Professor Betty Kramer.

Lunch is included on the first day and last day. The other 3 lunches are on your own at any of the many restaurants near the Lowell Center. One block from the conference center is State Street, home to a wide array of enjoyable restaurants.

A $500 deposit is required at registration.

Lodging

Please make your own travel and lodging arrangements. Maps and information on lodging and parking are sent with your registration confirmation. A block of rooms is available at the Lowell Center, 610 Langdon Street; rates are $89/single, $101/double. To make reservations call 608-256-2621 (group code Grief Counseling) or visit their online reservation system. The rooms will be released to others 4 weeks before the program dates. Lodging costs are not included in the program fee.

Meet your instructors

Lead Instuctor Douglas Smith (MA, MSc, MDiv) is a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant with over 25 years’ experience as a counselor, therapist, and health care administrator. He has worked in hospitals, hospices, and social services agencies. He is the author of a number of books including: The Tao of Dying; Caregiving: Hospice-Proven Techniques for Healing Body and Soul; Being a Wounded Healer; and The Complete Book of Counseling the Dying and the Grieving.

Anne McGuire is a Certified Professional Life Coach, having a private practice in LaGrange Park, IL and an academic background in psychology. She sees her work as a life coach focusing in 2 directions. First, she aims at assisting her clients to come to a place of healing in the midst of their past losses (she is a former recipient of the UW-Madison Grief Support Services Certificate). Then after leading them to a place of healing from the past, she focuses on equipping them for the future by shining a light on their uniqueness, gifts, strengths, sorrows, joys, and coping skills.

Molly Tomony (MA, ATR-BC, LPC) is currently a child and family therapist for the Rainbow Project in Madison, Wisconsin. She has taught art therapy and education for both the University of Wisconsin and Edgewood College, and has worked in several hospices, specializing in art therapy and grief work with children. Molly has extensive experience in running grief groups for both hospices and schools, having written manuals for running grief groups in elementary, middle, and high school settings. She has also applied her art therapy talents to individuals with disabilities and is currently an art instructor for SALSO (Strong Artistic Ladies Speaking Out).

Ridley Usherwood (MA, D.Min) has over 40 years of experience in education, teaching, research, and program design. He is currently grief support coordinator for Home Health United as well as a practicing marriage and family therapist, with a strong background in pastoral ministry and counseling. He has taught classes in multi-cultural studies at Edgewood College and was for 9 years the director of the Intercultural Studies Program at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Ridley has done work in South Korea, Brazil, Great Britain, Ghana, Germany, Argentina, the Philippines, Ecuador, and Canada. He has also assisted in the development of Hope Africa University in Nairobi, Kenya.

Special Consultant Dr Betty Kramer is a professor of social work and a member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She is a nationally recognized gerontology researcher, scholar, and educator who specializes in palliative and end-of-life care and grief and bereavement.